Multifunction Finishing Liquids Containing Dendrimers and the Application of the Liquids in Textile Finishing

ABSTRACT

A finishing liquid which containing as least one kind of dendrimer molecules with terminal groups of —NH 2 , —OH, —COOH, —COOR, —R, —Si—O—R, PAMAM-OS, —R-halogen etc, or with groups which can be modified to achieve the above groups was invented. Employing sol-gel or solution method, the finished textiles obtain part of the following multifunction: breathable, water proof, oil repellency, soil repellency, anti-static, anti-UV irradiation, anti-bacterial, dying acceleration, and slowly release of drug and perfume.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the preparation of multifunctional finishing liquids containing dendrimers and the application methods in multifunction finishing of textiles.

2. Brief Summary of the Prior Art

Dendrimers, called the 21st century new materials, are a class of unique structural material. They distinguished themselves to conventional linear polymers by peculiar nano sphere structure with internal voids and channels; the multiform architecture; high regularity and molecular weights monodispersity; high density of reactive terminal functional groups. A schematic molecule of a typical dendrimer PAMAM (polyamidoamine) is illustrated in FIG. 1. And the structure of the dendrimer is illustrated in FIG. 2. The dendrimers consist of a central core linked to layers of repeating units (generations) and a number of terminal groups. These units are interdependent and create a unique molecular shape. The molecular weight, diameters and terminal group number of different generation PAMAM dendrimers are tabulated in Table 1. Because of their unique structures, dendrimers have a variety of intriguing potential applications like catalyst, sensor, drug delivery, and reaction matrix. The strategies for the design of dendritic macromolecules have convergent, divergent, and double-stage convergent growth methods.

TABLE 1 Molecular weight, measured diameter and surface groups number of different generation Dendrimer (PAMAM) Molecular Measured Surface Generation Weight Diameter (Å) Groups 0 517 15 4 1 1,430 22 8 2 3,256 29 16 3 6,909 36 32 4 14,215 45 64 5 28,826 54 128 6 58,048 67 256 7 116,493 81 512 8 233,383 97 1024 9 467,162 114 2048 10 934,720 135 4096

The dendrimers are of different properties because of the employed different reaction monomer, generation number, and terminal groups. Besides, by employing different initiator and different synthesis methods, different shape dendrimer molecules such fan-shaped, half ball-shaped, elliptic, cylindrate, mushroom-shaped dendrimers with special properties can be developed. Because of dendrimer special features, they have great potential in textile multifunction finishing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The textiles with special function such as anti-UV irradiation, anti-bacteria, anti-static, water proof and high moisture permeability, oil repellency, soil repellency as well as favourable dyeing ability for hydrophobic fibres were obtained through finishing process. However, generally the multifunction can not be achieved by one-step finishing.

On the contrary, the multifunction finishing liquid containing dendrimers make the above functions achieved within one step: The inorganic functional chemicals through sol-gel method can react with dendirmers terminal groups. After the finishing process, a special cubic net comprising nano dendirmer and functional inorganic chemicals are form on the textile substrate. This special structure can bring textile with functions of anti-UV irradiation, anti-bacteria etc. The dendrimers with functional inorganic salts offer a way to provide enhanced properties. The dendirmers with —COOH, —NH₂, etc terminal groups can bring finished textiles with hydrophilic, anti-bacterial, antistatic etc simultaneously. The dendrimers with alkyl terminal groups provide textile with water proof, good hand feeling, and soil-repellency. The amphiphilic dendrimers and dendimers having siloxane groups finishing bring textiles with good hand feeling and as carrier and phase transfer enhance the dyeing effect of hydrophobic fibres. Also, because of the dendrimers nano structure, it brings textiles with functions of nano material finishing of time enduring, high wash ability while low influence to textiles styles. The terminal groups of dendrimers can be modified to obtain the groups in need to offer versatile function to textile which bring much more difference function to textiles. Besides, because of dendrimers molecules internal voids and channels in the nano sphere, it offers a way for drug or perfume embed and controllable release in finished textiles. The principle of molecular design of the dendrimer is shown in FIG. 3.

One finishing liquid preparation and application technology is through sol-gel method. First, nano-dendritic molecules and different function inorganic precursors such as TiO₂ and SiO₂, are made into sol as finishing liquid. The multifunction finishing liquid is composed of 0.1 wt % dendrimer molecules and 10.0-15.0 wt % functionalized inorganic precursors and distilled water. The finishing process includes impregnation or padding, drying and post curing. The post curing temperature and time are set according to different textiles. After textiles finished a special cubic cross linked net structure will be developed on textile between yarns gap and on yarns surface. The finished textiles can obtain functions of water proof, breathable, anti-static, soil repellency, oil repellency, anti-UV irradiation, anti-bacterial.

Compared with conventional finishing liquids, the multifunctional finishing liquids have many advantages: simplifying finishing process; reducing cost while increasing performance; environmental friendly; good hand feeling; healthy and safe (no Fluorine).

The typical employed dendrimers PAMAM-OH, PAMAM-NH₂, PAMAM-CH₃, PAMAM-Si(OR)₃, PAMAM-OS, polysiloxane are shown in FIGS. 4˜9 respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the typical dendrimers' structure, and PAMAM that frequently studied as functional macromolecules.

FIG. 2 is the schematic structure of a dendrimer macromolecule.

FIG. 3 is the molecular design of dendrimers for textile finishing.

FIGS. 4-9 are typical employed dendrimers PAMAM-OH, PAMAM-NH₂, PAMAM-CH₃, PAMAM-Si(OR)₃, PAMAM-OS, Polysiloxane.

FIG. 10 shows textile surface after finished by dendrimer macromolecules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Example 1

The finishing liquid was a sol system made of dendrimer PAMAM-Si(OR)₃ and TiO₂ precursor. The main ingredients were; TiO₂ precursor TBT 0.1˜1.0 mol/L, dendrimer (1 ml, solved in isopropanol with 10 v %) 0.1˜1.0 mol/l; butanol 0.1˜1.0 mol/L; dilute hydrochloric acid. After it reacted with textiles, the textiles had the properties of time enduring antibacterial, anti UV-radiation, antistatic etc.

The preparation methods of the finishing composites water sol were as follows; the TBT precursor solution (0.1 mol/L), dendrimers (1 ml, solved in isopropanol with 10 v %), and HCl solution was prepared in advance. Then the TBT and ethanol were mixed in a dried beaker to make a homogenous solution by stirring. At last, the mixture solution was added dropwise to pre-adjusted PH distilled water while controlling reaction temperature at 50° C.

The finishing process were; impregnation and padding (pick-up 60%)→pre-dry (80° C., 2 min)→hot pressing (150° C., 30 S)→curing (160° C., 3 min)

Example 2

The finishing liquid was PAMAM-R solution in distilled water. Technological process included two steps. The first step was pretreatment which aimed to get rid of surface active substance and impurity. The pretreatment chemical was naphthalene sulfuric acid. The liquor Ratio was 30:1 and the temperature was 60° C. for 30 min. Multifunction finishing using PAMAM-CH₃ technological process was: impregnation→padding (pick up 70˜80%)→bake (130˜150° C., 2 min). By coating with special adhesive on textile, the dendrimer molecules are attached to the textile surface. As can be seen from FIG. 10, because of the small surface tension and molecule orientation of hydrocarbon, a hydrophobic lay are formed on the textile surface. The —CH3 of dendrimer molecule can not reverse, the large quantity of rigid —CH₃ are arranged on the textile surface orderly after heat treatment. The hydrophobic lay is long lasting because —CH3 form cocrystallization. The finished textiles have endured wash ability, good hand feeling.

Example 3

The finishing liquid was made of dendrimer PAMAM (NHCOCH₂CH₂COOH)₁₆ solution in water. After it reacted with textiles, the textiles had the properties of water proof and the high moisture permeability. Intermittent impregnating method was employed in applying this multifunction finishing liquids for finishing textiles made of cellulose fibers. Dendrimers concentarion was ranged from 2.0 to 20 w %. The finishing process was water Bath→enzyme bath→water bath→desiccate→weight→spray or impregnate finishing wok liquid (70 w % of textile)→dry until 20% pick up content→cool air blast (liquid pick up 10%)→hot pressing→curing→cool and dampening→package. The finished textile had the functions of hydrophilic, soil-repellency, and antistatic. 

1. A finishing liquid for use in textile multifunction finishing comprising at least one kind of dendrimer having a core with branched polymeric arms attached to and extending from said core.
 2. The finishing liquid of claim 1, wherein said multifunction includes breathable, water proof, oil repellency, soil repellency, anti-static, anti-UV irradiation, anti-bacterial, dying acceleration and, slowly release of drug and perfume.
 3. The finishing liquid of claim 1, wherein said dendrimer is selected from the dendrimers that containing at least one terminal group of —NH2, —OH, —COOH, —COOR, —R, —Si—O—R, PAMAM-OS, —R-halogen, or dendrimers containing groups that can be modified to achieve the above groups.
 4. The finishing liquid of claim 1, wherein said dendrimer reacts with textiles substrate or adheres physically on textile substrate.
 5. The finishing liquid of claim 1, wherein said finishing liquid includes inorganic components of TiO2, SiO2 precursor which form cross linked net or form a film to be fixed on the textile substrate by finishing technology.
 6. The finishing liquid of claim 1, wherein said dendrimer is selected from the dendrimers with the number of repeat units is from two to eleven, and the number of core arm per core branch point is more than three.
 7. The finishing liquid of claim 5, where in said finishing technology is by sol-gel method or physical adhesion and chemical reaction.
 8. The finishing liquid of claim 7, wherein the process of finishing technology is with the steps of: impregnation or padding; pre-drying; hot pressing; and curing.
 9. The finishing liquid of claim 1, where in said textile is made of cotton, wool and synthesis fabrics. 